Engine combustion air control system



1947. A. F. MATTHEWS ET AL ENGINE COMBUSTION AIR CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1944 FIG. I

fi 0 9 8 o om o 2 2 2 $37 MM WWW; O 4 0 0% l 8/ AU\ uJo 3 0d 3 1: D

4 2 B o o 0 n a FIG. 6

Snnentors MATTHEWS MOCLURE JR- EDMOND SIROKY ARTHUR ROBERT Gttomeg Oct. 21, 1 947. A. F. MATTHEWS ET AL 2,429,208

' ENGINE COMBUSTION AIVR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

Zinnntors ARTHUR E MATTHEWS ROBERT D. McCLURE JR. EDMOND SIROKY under other conditi dirt and abrasive matter inquantities' sufiicient'to Patented Oct. 21, 1947 LIN-FEED STATES o! 2;429,2oe nema or/inns mane-common. YSTEM Arthur Fa Matthe'ws,--

Ferguson, and Robert D.

The presentinvention relates to internal com:- bustion engines, generally and is particularlyflirected to an improved combustion air induction control system adaptedflfor engines utiiizedin aircraft or'land vehicles and the like.v In, the operation of an internal combustion en'- gine driven, vehicle and espg ciallyhwhere the com bustion air is drawn orforced into; the carburetor mechanism by; the forward motion ofthe vehic1e it frequently developsythatjatmospheric conditions will adversely affect thesmooth functione ing or-continued' operation thereof. In referring to adverse atmosbhericfconditions 'it is, meant that under certain characteristics of air flow, temperature and moisturejcontent the rapid formal? tion of ice may occur in the enginelcarburetor which canbe serious enough to. freeze up the carburetor and associate d'air control valve j and that ons the air. can containdust,

cause rapid deterioration of moving parts, ofvthe engine. While these efEectsmay'nOthe particularly importantor critical; with the general, class of engine driven land vehicles itis of great im portance with" the airborne class of vehicles such as theheavier thamair craft. v

The followingdischssioh of this invention shall be'directed to its application in aircraft; 7 it" should be. recognizedthat a, broadened i-ieldlo'f iise toother' than aircraft gcontemplatediher'ee in; v The aircraft application ofthe invention finds ar ularmerit in th liged. for: operations. in widely; varying geogr phk icalj locations with no specialflprovisions b'eii g equ ireditofprot'ect the power .planta'g'ainst .difier riccs nclima tic conditionsso.encountered.v Fre- V qu t y; the carburetor, airctintakesysjtem on. an airplane must bespecially adapted .to' meet operating conditionshexpected of fit ,in' .a specific locality." With theair. control arrangement-here'- inafter to, be: described in detail it; becomes posa. sible to] incorporate in a -si1fig e vunit the means necessary to ,permit' safe and o continuous operatio'ni of, an". aircraft Qengine orf engines through varied climatic conditions and atmospheric, varia tiojns. This means incorporates in one .ur'iit provisions tori-obtaining atmospher-iciairas a primary combustion. air source together with a .val'ving means controllable to; select the atmospheric air for delivery to the engine directly; or to divert such air into th'ejengine compartment, or other areaprior toits passage through a filtering means and introduction to theenginecarburetor or airiuel-mixing device;- There-is alsomade available to the system means for heating the-combustion p'aratiis or carburetor 2 1 air such-a 'a,t1p1y*ofhbt exhaust-gas for admix= to -w h 'at d he iet r br' ma e heated-above the temperatnre level; at which-ice can formin-th'e passages-of the an induction an- I -throttle-'valVe.- I I 7 Accordinglythe -presen t-=invention-has as one of -its Eprinc'i'pal "ohjeetsthe provision tor an in ternal combustion 'e f h or. means rcsr receiving atmospheric or ram air fluetoj the fdrward"niotion of the enginedriven vehicle and which means shall be efiec-tive -to alter ,a olflaracteristic o f such air prior- ;todelivery-thereof to the engine car= buretor oit'ainfuelixingdevice I a A-generalobiec tdbe du'nclfiri-the provision of "an: impr ved, air induction] contror m'eansffdlr carrying out the above note'd objectand' in-means for providinga ertainselectivityeverthecharacteristic -of air to -be"delivere d from a number of sources whereby it will be'possibie to supply the engine withrconibustion air in its most desirable condition. I Y Y Another "objectjis, toiarrange"an'engine air inu'ction control means" in a simple manner and tolcom'bin'e thereinfmeans Which-shall 1 be" efiectivc to-"in'crease- .the versatility and usefulness nof the engine;especialljfwvhen; utilized for aircraft prop ulsionz e A further: object resides" in the -provision' or. an actuating mechanism for establishing the control over and proper correlation of theengine air in? duction contro cans and primary adjuncts, the same beingefie'c ve'to positio'n the air'indtiction means for carryin Dutcertaindesirable changes in the oair up lied .to the'eng ne and" to position the', 'air induction means; and primary adjuncts fora realization of certain '0 her changes-in the irjsuh lie' o t e engine; a These and other objectsandradvantages' will'b'e pointed out *in'th'e courseiof the detailed descrip'ftion given in connection with'the. accompanying drayving's in which: v j I Fig; 1 is ianjiel'l d' e levati oncfj the preferred an induction valve" unit and. is: shown partlyvlin" sec} tion'with certain other portions broken away' the better" to illustrate important featuresthe'reo Fig: -2 is a; p rspective iew or, the vane it valve member as. embloyed in the preferred; air induction control system, I

r'igfria an e aye evati nor t e va ve assembly in Which the novel; actuatingflsystemis illustrated toadvantages- V V A Fig; ai -is" a view' oftiie*actuatin-gjmechanism when moved irointhe neutral" position or Fiat-'3 in order toadfiust the airinduction-valve'to alter 'a characteristicorthe engineair,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a reverse movement in the actuating mechanism which will result in a further alteration of the engine air characteristic,

Fig. 6 is a modification of the air induction valve assembly of Fig. 1, though the principle of operation is not changed, and

Fig. 7 is a further modification of the air induction unit in which the valve element shown is of rotary type and in which a plurality of combustion air supply ports are each controlled by the valve unit.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, th principal form of the present air induction control unitis seen at 19 while the engine and carburetor with which it is associated are indicated in outline at H and I2 respectively. More particularly, the air induction control unit consists of a valve housing l3 mounted on a down draft air inductor tube M for the carburetor or other fuel-air mixing device as by means of a-resilient connector collar [5. Directly above the housing l3 there is positioned a diffuser 16 which may be of fabricated sheet construction or a-cast body as shown. The principal source of combustion air is introduced first to the diffuser [6 by means of a pipe or conduit l'lwhich is connected .to an air scoop or inlet port (not shown) the latter being positioned to receive ram air as a result of the forward motion of the airplane or other body or vehicle'being propelled by motor I l. The air fiowingor forcibly rammed into the tube l1 by the forward motion of the vehicle or airplane moves from the diffuser 16 to andthrough the valve housing [3 on its way to the carburetor induction pipe I4. The diffuser unit 'I 6 will be referred to presently and in more detail in connection with the discussion of its function in the system.

In addition to the diffuser body IS, a housing l8 and removable frame and cover (9 is bolted or otherwise secured to a side wall 29 of the valve housing 13 as shown in Fig. 3. for the positioning of afilter-2l, carried within the frame structure [9, over the entire cross-section of the air inlet 22. The filtered air is introduced to the valve chamber 23 through port while the air supply for the filter unit is obtained from the side of valve housing [3 opposite the filtered air port 24, the same being ported at 25 so'tha't ram air may bev directed into themotor compartment or enclosure where it eventually will be drawn through the filter means 21 by. way of air inlet 22.

The means for controlling the supply of atmospheric ram air or filtered enclosure air comprises a valve member 23 of parallel vane type (Fig.2) which is fully enclosed by and operatively positioned in the housing l3 to rotate on a shaft 21. the latterbeing mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) "formed in the cover plates or end walls of the housing IS. The valve 23 consists Of side or lateral vanes, 28 and an intermediate spaced vane 29 all integrally formed with end plates 39 such that a unitary valve element results. The side or lateral vanes 28 are substantially flat and of a size sufficient to close the ports 24 'and 25, before noted, when positioned vertically as in Fig. 1; while the centrally disposed vane 29 is given a slight entering and exit fairing for reduction of resistance to air flow. The valve 26 is indicated in the neutral position in Fig. 1 such that ram air entering pipe I! will pass directly to the carburetor air induction pipe 14. Should filtered air be desired, the valve 25 is intended to be rotated counter-clockwise until the central vane 29 lies diagonally across the may enter the space between into the induction pipe I4. It

shaft 40, carried in one or chamber 23, in which position the entering ram air is diverted or forced by the upper face of vane 29 to pass through the port 25 and into the engine compartment. This air will then flow to the filter inlet 22 and again enter the valve chamber through port 24, whereby the under surface of the central vane 29 will act to direct the filtered air will be noted that the filter-supporting housing l8 has a considerable outward flare at the port 24, and in order to realize the full port area when the valve 23 has been rotated, the end plates 39 of this valve are cut back or notched as at 3| (Fig. 2) so that air the vanes in a direction axially thereof. The same general arrangement of vaned-type valve rotor and its two-position function is better shown in connection with the modified version shown in Fig. 6 wherein the dotted lines and. arrows show schematically the valve position and air flow path for obtaining filtered air.

Again referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the diffuser chamber 13 is formed to provide a central passage 32 defined by wall 33 having a multiplicity of perforations 34 communicating with an annular surrounding space 35, the latter space being defined by a jacket wall 36. A pipe 3'! opens into the space 35 at port 38, and the other end of this pipe 31 connects with one or more Of the enginecylinder exhaust gas stacks (not shown). A controlling butterfly valve 39 is mounted in pipe 31 and may be interconnected with a second valve (not shown) positioned in the normal exhaust stack whereupon the two valves function simultaneously to close pipe 31 and open the exhaust pipe (not shown) or vice-versa. Thus, when valve 39 is open, the hot exhaust gas will flow into chamber 35 and pass through the apertures 34 to mingle with the column of ram air passing through the central passage 32 of the diffuser body 15. It is of course understood that any other suitable source of heat may be substituted for the heat source shown.'

In order to realize the full benefits of the air induction system, controlling mechanism has been applied to the unit and its function is such that the operator of the vehicle or pilot of the airplane instantly may select the condition of combustion air which will result in the most desirable engine operation. One such mechanism is indicated in Fig. 3 and comprises a main jack more bearings 4| at the side of air induction tube 14, the shaft being rotated or oscillated by an integral crank arm 42, An operating rod 43 is pivotally attached to the arm 42 and extends to a suitable control lever 44 positioned adjacent the location of the operator or pilot. A plate-like actuator means 45, either integral with or separate from member 52, is secured to the jack shaft 40, as by welding or the like, and moves in unison with the crank 42. Spaced roller elements 46 and 41 are mounted on the actuator plate as shown and are adapted to cooperate with slotted camming levers 48 and 49 respectively. The cam levers 48 and 49 are pivotally mounted at 59 on a common bracket element 5| (Fig. 1). Lever 48'is formed with an integral and angularly related arm 52 which connects with an adjustable rod 53, the latter in turn being connected with the valve op-- erating lever or crank arm 54 secured to shaft 21. The remaining-cam lever 49 connects with crank arm or lever 55 on jack shaft 55 by means of an adjustable rod 51, The shaft 56, operatively mounted in spaced bearing brackets 58,

means for the outside air supply, filter means for the enclosure air supply, an air selector valve member operatively positioned in the valve housing, and control'means for said selector valve and air heating means whereby the engine may be supplied with outside air, filtered enclosure air or heated outside air as desired.

3. In an enclosed internal combustion engine arrangement, combustion air induction and control means for the engine comprising a valve housing associated with the engine air induction system, a conduit directingair from without the engine enclosure into said housing, a conduit directing enclosure air into said housing, said housing having a port opening into the engine enclosure, an air selector valve member operatively positioned in the housing, a filter unit positioned in the second mentioned conduit, and valve position controlling means adapted to position said valve for passage of air from without the enclosure through the housing while closing said port or to position said valve to direct air from without the enclosure through said port and into the engine enclosure for ultimate passage to the enclosure air directing conduit for induction to the engine.

4. In an enclosed internal combustion engine arrangement, combustion air induction and control means for the engine comprising a chambered housing having a pair of air inlet ports and a pair of air outlet ports, an air supply means to supply air from outside the engine enclosure for one of said inlet ports, an enclosure air supply means for the other of said inlet ports, an air inductor conduit between the engine and one of said outlet ports, a valve member rotatively mounted in said housing chamber and being positionable to permit the passage of outside air therethrough to said inductor conduit while closing the other of said outlet ports or to permit the passage therethrough of enclosure air while diverting the outside air supply through said other outlet port, and valve positioning mechanism adapted to move said valve member as aforesaid.

5. The combination in a combustion air control means for an internal combustion engine air supply system, of a. chambered body having pairs of air inlet and air outlet ports, separate means for the supply of combustion air to the inlet ports from separate sources, an engine air inductor tube associated with one of said outlet ports, and an air selector valve element operatively mounted in the body chamber, said valve element comprising a member having a plurality of vane elements arranged to direct the air flow through said body chamber and to control the opening and closing of said outlet ports, one of said plurality of vane elements being effective to divert the air supplied from one of said separate sources through the other of said outlet ports while permitting air flow to the engine inductor tube from the other said separate source of air.

6. The combination in a combustion air control means for an internal combustion engine air supply system, of a chambered body having pairs of air inlet and outlet ports, separate means for the supply of combustion air to the inlet ports from separate sources, an engine air inductor tube associated with one of said outlet ports, and an air selector valve element operatively positioned in the body chamber, said selector valve element co pr si g a member having a primary air flow control vane element and a pair of spaced secondary vanes arranged in port controlling association one with said other outlet port and one with an air inlet port.

'7. In an air supply system for an enclosed internal combustion engine, a combustion air control valve structure comprising a chambered body having pairs of air inlet and air outlet ports provided therein, means for supplying external air to one of said inlet ports, means for supplying enclosure air to the remaining inlet port, an engine air inductor tube connected to one of said outlet ports, and an air selector valve element operatively positioned in the body chamber, said selector valve element comprising a member having a first vane element adapted to permit external air flow to the engine inductor tube or to divert the same to the other of said outlet ports and other vane elemens associated with the enclosure air inlet port and said other outlet port, said other vane elements being adapted to open the associated ports when said first vane element is positioned to divert the external air from the engine inductor tube.

8. Ina combustion air supply arrangement for an enclosed engine, an engine air induction control means therefor including a conduit supplying atmospheric air to said control means, a. conduit for the supply of enclosure air to said control means, means for heating said atmospheric air, means for filtering said enclosure air, said control means having a port opening into the engine enclosure, a valve element operative to open and close said conduits and said port, and valve element position control means adapted selectively to position the valve element for admission to the engine of atmospheric air, while maintaining said filtered enclosure air conduit closed, or for admission of filtered enclosure air to the engine, while venting atmospheric air through said port, further said position control means including secondary means in control of said heating means to render the same effective for heating atmospheric air only when the filtered enclosure air conduit is closed.

9. In a combustion air supply arrangement for an enclosed engine as set forth in the preceding claim, and in which the heating means is further defined as comprising a jacketed body having a perforated wall structure constituting a portion of the atmospheric air supply conduit, said air heating means also having means for the supply of engine exhaust gas to the jacketed body.

10. In an air control system for an enclosed type internal combustion engine, the combination with an engine air selector valve member provided with separate supplies of air taken from a zone outside the enclosure for the engine and ambient air, and means for heating the air supplied to the engine, of a valve in control of the heating means, and valve position controlling mechanism adapted to actuate the selector valve to select outside or ambient air for supply to the engine and the heating control valve to supply or cut off heat for air supplied to the engine, said mechanism comprising individual position control means for each of said valves, the same being mounted for pivotal displacement in opposite senses about a common pivot, and means adapted to effect the displacement of the valve position control means one at a time.

11. In an air control system for an enclosed internal combustion engine, the combination with an engine air selector valve member provided with a supply of air from outside the engine enclosure a supply of air closely surrounding the engine, and means for heating the air supplied to the engine, of a valve in control of the heating means, and valve position controlling means adapted to move said air selector valve from a position admitting only outside air to the engine to a position admitting the air surrounding the engine while maintaining said heat control valve in closed position, and to move the heating valve from a closed to an open position to heat the outside air supply while maintaining the air selector valve in position admitting only outside air, said position controlling means comprising individual position control linkages for each of said valves and an actuator member operatively associated with each control linkage to elTect valve position regulation as aforesaid.

12. In an enclosed internal combustion engine having an air inductive means, a combustion air induction control system for the engine including a valve housing associated with the engine air induction means, a conduit directing air from outside the engine enclosure into said housing, a conduit directing enclosure air into said housing, heating supplying means for the outside air supply including a control valve, means for filtering the enclosure air supply, an air selector valve member operatively positioned in the valve housing, and control means for said selector valve and air heating means control valve comprising a selector valve positioning means including a cam lever provided with effective and lost-motion cam portions, heat control valve positioning means including a cam lever provided with effective and lost-motion cam portions, and an actuator common to both said cam levers and arranged to cause valve lever positioning movement of either cam lever through positive engagement with its effective cam portion while over-riding the remaining cam lever in the lost-motion cam portion thereof.

13. In an enclosed internal combustion engine arrangement, conduit means for passing air to the engine, said conduit means having a first inlet for air from outside the engine enclosure and a second inlet for air from within the enclosure provided with an air filter, said conduit means having an air outlet for discharging air with the conduit means for selectively directing air through the latter from the first inlet to the engine, or through the conduit means from the first inlet to said outlet and from the second inlet to the engine.

14. In an enclosed internal combustion engine arrangement, conduit means for passing air to the engine, said conduit means having a first inlet for air from outside the engine enclosure and a second inlet for air from Within the enclosure provided with an air filter, said conduit means being provided with air heating means and having an air outlet for discharging air into said enclosure, and control means associated with the conduit means and the air heating means for either: first, directing air from the first inlet heated by said air heating means to the engine; second, directing unheated air from the first inlet to the engine; or third, directing air from the first inlet to the outlet and from the second inlet to the engine.

ARTHUR F. MATTHEWS. ROBERT D. McCLURE, JR. EDMOND SIROKY REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,123,347 Ware July 12, 1938 2,208,689 Sulzman July 23, 1940 2,058,204 Ball et al Oct. 20, 1936 778,332 Redman Dec. 27, 1904 810,877 McKeoWn Jan. 23, 1906 1,295,999 Mesna Mar. 4, 1919 2,229,931 Parker Jan. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 206,263 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1939 848,026 France July 17, 1939 

